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“James! At last!” Malcolm brandished his sword in the air. “We’ve been searching these woods fer hours. Is Davina with ye?”

“I’m here, Malcolm,” she answered, emerging from her hiding spot.

“Thank the good Lord! Mother would have had my hide if I dinnae return with at least one of ye.”

“As I am so very pleased to see ye, brother, I willnae ask which one of us ye preferred to find,” James grumbled, though he smiled when he said it.

Malcolm drew closer. He surprised James utterly by pulling him into a manly hug and slapping him on the back.

“Ye seem unharmed,” Malcolm observed. “Both of ye.”

“We are well,” Davina answered. “How did ye know where to find us?”

“Luck. I wish I had thought to look here first. I recognized the area the moment we crested the ridge and remembered our secret cave.” Malcolm turned to James. “We always had a grand time here, even after father forbade us to come. I decided that if I were being chased, this would be a fine place to hide.”

“How did ye know we were in trouble?” James asked.

“The watch spotted what he thought was a beggar tramping through the woods. But when he noticed the man was well armed, he called fer the guard. ’Twas only after they started tracking him that the others were spotted.

“By then we realized both ye and Davina were gone, so we assumed ye were their target. We gave chase, but they eluded us. I’m so relieved they dinnae catch ye.”

“They were after Davina.”

Malcolm grimaced. “Just as Father feared.”

“Are ye alone?” Davina asked.

“Nay, I’ve got twenty men outside as escort and nearly one hundred combing these woods looking fer ye and those knaves trespassing on McKenna land. But I fear they are long gone.”

James blew out his breath. “Ye weren’t able to capture at least one of them?”

Malcolm shook his head in disgust. “They scattered to the winds once we rode from the castle gates. They seem to know these woods well; I suspect they have been hiding in them fer several days, if not weeks.”

“I’ll put out the fire. Gather the rest of yer clothes, Davina.” James turned to his brother. “Did ye bring any extra mounts fer us to ride?”

A strange look flashed in Malcolm’s eyes as he slowly took in their disheveled, half-dressed appearance. “How long have ye been in here?”

James shrugged. “I’m not certain. Several hours at least.”

James could see a muscle ticking in his brother’s jaw, as though he suddenly became aware of something very important.

“I fear that yer honor might be compromised, Davina,” Malcolm said, his gaze sharpening as he studied their faces.

“No matter. Let the gossips say what they will.” James took Davina’s hand in his. “We are to be married.”

Malcolm’s gaze shot to Davina. “Truly?”

“Aye.” Davina smiled, then blushed and lowered her chin. “We decided today.”

The announcement did little to mollify his brother’s sour expression. And perversely, that brought James a wicked jolt of pleasure.

The fog and cold rolled in at the same time, making the ride miserable for all. Freezing rain and wind blew against them, but the brigand saw it as the first good sign since the McKenna soldiers had thundered through the castle gates and given chase.

The cold would slow the McKenna warriors down and the fog would aid the brigand and his men in their escape, for it obscured all but the closest objects. He pushed the men hard, knowing it would take a full day until they had ridden off McKenna land—and even then, there was no assurance that the clan warriors wouldn’t follow.

“I grow weary of this game of cat and mouse,” one of the men complained through chattering teeth. “My mount is ready to drop from exhaustion.”

Several of the others echoed the same sentiment and the brigand’s stomach tightened. The men had lost confidence in his abilities to lead them and there was little he could say in his defense. This last ambush—this final chance to capture or kill Lady Davina—had failed. There was nothing left to do but scatter and pray they weren’t caught, for it was doubtful the McKenna would show them any mercy.